Fire extinguisher



Patented Apr. 21, 1953 FIRE EXTINGUISHER Boyd J. Allen and Francis A. Rauh, Elmira, N. Y., assignors to American-La France-Foamite Corporation, Elmira, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 20, 1950, Serial No. 157,144

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in fire extinguishers and, more particular- 1y, to the application to their metal shells of the so-called instruction panel which serves to identify the type of extinguisher and display other vital information pertaining to its use, recharging and so forth.

Having regard to the emergency conditions and attendant excitement existing in time of fire, and the many years of useful life expected of such apparatus, it is of paramount importance that the information thus to be conveyed to the user of a, fire extinguisher be of the utmost clarity and that the instruction panel and its markings have an unusual measure of durability, even under misuse or neglect.

One object of the present invention is to provide a fire extinguisher which has an instruction panel having markings of far greater legibility than the customary embossed lettering on instruction panels such as are now commonly in use and which cannot easily be read at a distance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fire extinguisher having an instruction panel which is an integral part of the fire extinguisher shell and virtually indestructible. In this respect, the present invention differs radically from the customary fire extinguishers now in use which have separate instruction panels that must be secured to the fire extinguisher shell in some manner, such as by soldering, welding, adhesives or the like and which, by accident or tampering, may become detached from the shell of the extinguisher.

The present invention also prevents any possibility of damage to the extinguisher such as may occur in the operation of attaching a separate panel to the shell, as for example by soldering or welding. In welding such a panel to the extinguisher shell, the protective coating on the inside of the shell may be damaged by the attendant heat. In the case of soldering such a panel to the shell, the residue of the flux that cannot be removed and remains beneath the panel may cause corrosion that may weaken the shell and also cause unsightly discoloration at the edges of the panel, even to such an extent as to injure the legibility of the instructions. In cases where the separate panel and the shell are made of different materials, such as brass and stainless steel, it may be difiicult or impossible to weld or solder the panel securely to the shell and the present invention eliminates any problem of this sort.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of making a fire extinguisher with an instruction panel that not only embodies the foregoing features and advantages, but that can be made at considerably less cost than that of making a separate instruction panel and then attaching it to the shell of the extinguisher. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent and best understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein a fire extinguisher embodying the present invention is illustrated.

For the purposes of illustrating and describing the invention, a fire extinguisher I of the standard, 2 gallon type has been selected from the various applicable types, sizes, and shapes of fire extinguishers and accordingly is shown in the drawing. The body or shell 2 of the extinguisher l is generally cylindrical in shape and may be made of brass, stainless steel or other suitable metal by the usual welding, drawing, riveting, brazing, or soldering operations. The illustrated shell 2 has the customary threaded neck at its top and screw closure cap 3. The extinguisher is also provided with the usual discharge hose 4 and nozzle 5.

After the shell or body 2 of the extinguisher is made in the usual manner, its outer surface is given its customary commercial finish, such as a polished, or painted, or plated surface which hereinafter will be referred to as a finished surface. Commonly, and as is preferred, the shell is polished and buffed to give its metal surface a smooth, brightly polished finish. Following this, an area forming an instruction panel 6 is prepared on the exterior of the extinguisher shell or body 2 to receive the legend identifying the type of extinguisher and setting forth instructions as to its proper use, together with decorations or other insignia as desired.

In preparing the instruction panel 6, an area of rectangular or other appropriate size and shape on the shell 2 is roughened, abraded, and covered with numerous minute indentations, so that it has a dull texture and contains numerous minute recesses, crevices, and cavities. By whatever method this is effected, the resulting area will be referred to for convenience as roughened. After and as the result of such treatment, the roughened instruction panel 6 is delineated by and somewhat differentiated from the surrounding normally finished or brightly polished, or painted, or plated surface of the shell, by reason of the light reflective property of the panel area having been reduced. Suitable roughening of the surface of the instruction panel B may be obtained by an abrasive-blasting of the selected area of the shell. The length of time required for such abrasive-blasting will depend upon the hardness of the metal from which the shell is made and the material and size of the abrasive used in the blasting. These factors may be readily determined and the blasting should not be carried to the extent where it will reduce the thickness of the metal or affect the strength of the shell to any appreciable amount. In the case of stainless steel, such blasting cold works the metal and actually tends to increase its physical strength. Abrasives ranging in size from No. 20 to No. 240, or grits of comparable sizes, may be satisfactorily used for such blasting. According to the preferred method herein described, the entire area of the panel is roughened and the legend created by establishing juxtaposed areas of the roughened metal of the shell and what for convenience will be referred to as color areas.

After the surface of the shell for the instruction panel 6 has thus been roughened by blasting, or other suitable means, it is cleaned and then a protective coating such as paint, enamel, or lacquer, preferably of baking types, and hereafter referred to for convenience as paint, is applied in appropriate configuration, either as ground areas or areas representing characters, or (as in this instance) both. In the illustrated embodiment, the protective coating of paint of a contrasting color to the shell is applied to the areas representing the border lines I and the letters or legend 8 and to the ground area H) defining the letters of the words For Fire, etc. In this preferred method the protective coating of paint is applied to these areas by silk screen printing. The consistency of the paint used should be such that it will flow through the silk screen and into the bottoms of the recesses, crevices, and cavities in areas of the roughened surface to which it is applied, one edge of the silk screen being placed in contact with one side of the panel 6 and then the cylindrical shell 2 rotated while the silk screen is moved linearly in the same direction, and at the same rate, with the paint being forced through the open portions of the silk screen onto the shell 2.

After the coating has been applied to the appropriate areas of the panel 6, unprotected areas of the roughened metal surface of panel 5 are then permanently discolored by oxidizing them. This may be done by subjecting the panel area to heat, such as infrared, in an oxidizing atmosphere, such as air. The areas of the panel 6 which have been painted are protected by the paint from such oxidation and discoloration. However, the paint will be suitably baked and hardened thereby. Such oxidation and discoloration may be carried out by placing the shell in an infrared heating tunnel for five minutes at a maximum temperature of 350 F.

It has been found that the oxidation of the roughened surface area of the shell forming the panel 6 resulting from such heating permanently discolors the unprotected portions of this area. It has also been found that if the shell as a whole was initially buffed to a high polish, its finish (that is, outside of the roughened instruction panel area) is relatively unaffected by the oxidizing step.

While the described process results in an effective bonding of the protective coating to the color areas of the roughened metal surface and provides a highly durable legend, it has been found that the legend persists even if the paint be removed from some or all of the colored areas (as by the application of a paint remover). This enduring quality of the legend results from the fact, as stated above, that the color coating protects those areas to which it is applied, so that the oxidizing step creates an effective color contrast between the bare or uncolored roughened areas and the actual surface of the metal of What have been called the color areas.

When the protective coating, such as paint, is applied to the appropriate areas of the roughened surface of the instruction panel 6 so that it reaches the bottoms of the minute recesses, crevices, and cavities therein, it is protected from mechanical removal by the side walls of such recesses, crevices, or cavities which are formed by the metal of the extinguisher shell itself. The protective coating, thus, will not be removed during the life of the extinguisher by the normal hand polishing to which it may be subjected.

In addition to the durable character of the legend that is produced in accordance with the foregoing method, it has been found that the characters produced are so sharply defined that the legend may be clearly seen and read at a maximum distance from the extinguisher. The sharp definition of the characters produced also makes it possible to incorporate sketches on the instruction panel having clear, sharp definition and illustrating pictorially the basic thought or principles conveyed by the words. By such visual presentation of the manner in which the extinguisher should be used, anyone will be able to tell at a glance the correct procedure to be followed for the operation of the extinguisher in case of fire and will automatically educate themselves in the correct use of the extinguisher merely by subconscious glances at it in passing. Not only will this be true, but the essential points will be grasped much quicker in an emergency and regardless of whether or not the person called upon to use the extinguisher is able to read and understand the words.

Following the oxidation of the unprotected areas of the panel G, a colorless protective coating in the nature of a clear lacquer or varnish may be applied to the entire panel area (and the remainder of the shell) after which the entire shell may be baked again. This coating increases the indestructibility of the pattern or wording on the panel by protecting it against surface abrasion, and also protects against further discoloration the oxidized portions of the roughened surface.

The cost of applying the present instruction panel to a fire extinguisher is only a small fraction of that involved in making and affixing a separate brass instruction panel; and, in addition to being virtually indestructible, the legibility of the present panel is considerably greater than that of the embossed lettering such as is commonly used in the case of separately formed panels.

It will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A metal fire extinguisher shell having a finished exterior surface and an instruction panel located on the exterior surface thereof,

said instruction panel having a roughened surface and a, legend carried on said roughened surface, said legend comprising juxtaposed contrastingly colored and runcolored areas of the roughened surface of the panel, said uncolored areas being oxidized to a color differing from the color of the finished surface of the shell, and a colorless, protective coating overlying the entire surface of the panel.

2. A metal fire extinguisher having an integral instruction panel on the exterior surface thereof, said panel having a roughened surface and a legend carried on said panel, said legend being defined by juxtaposed unpainted areas of the roughened surface and painted areas of the roughened surface, said unpainted areas of the roughened surface being oxidized to a color differing from the color of the metal surface of the shell.

3. A metal fire extinguisher shell having a finished exterior surface surrounding an instruction panel zone, said zone consisting of a roughened surface on the exterior surface of the extinguisher shell, a legend on said roughened surface defined by silk-screen printed areas, the unprinted areas of the roughened surface being oxidized to a color differing from the color of the finished surface of the shell and from the color of the roughened surface underlying said printed areas.

4. A metal fire extinguisher shell having a finished exterior surface surrounding an instruction panel zone thereon, said panel having a roughened surface containing numerous small recesses, crevices and cavities, apigmented material of a contrasting color applied to selected areas of said roughened surface, said pigmented material being located in the recesses, cracks and cavities in the roughened surface and being of a color contrasting with the color of the roughened surface of the panel, said colored areas defining characters of an instruction legend on the surface of the panel.

5. A metal fire extinguisher shell having an instruction panel as defined in claim 4 wherein the areas of the roughened surface of the panel adjoining the colored character defining areas are oxidized to a color differing from the color of the shell and the color of the roughened surface underlying said pigmented material.

6. A method of applying instruction characters to a metal surface which includes the steps of roughem'ng a selected area on said surface and producing numerous minute recesses, crevices and cavities therein, then defining instruction characters on said roughened surface by applying a visible and protective coating of a baking type of paint to the bottoms and sides of the recesses, crevices and cavities in selected portions of the roughened surface and then heating said roughened surface under oxidizing conditions to a temperature sufficient to discolor unprotected portions thereof.

'7. A method of applying instruction characters to a metal surface as defined in claim 6 wherein the selected area is roughened by blasting the surface with an abrasive grit.

8. A method of applying instruction characters to a metal surface as defined in claim 6 which includes the steps of applying a protective coating of transparent paint to the entire surface of the roughened area after discoloring the unprotected portions thereof and then baking both coatings of paint on said roughened surface.

9. In a method of applying an instruction panel and legend to a metal shell of a fire extinguisher having a smoothly finished exterior surface, the steps of roughening an area on the exterior surface of a cylindrical metal shell and producing numerous minute recesses, crevices and cavities in the surface of said area, said roughened area forming an instruction panel and having a texture differing from the finish of surrounding areas on the exterior of the shell, then defining instruction characters on said roughened area by applying a visible and protective coating of paint to the bottoms and side Walls of the recesses, crevices and cavities in selected portions of the surface of the roughened area on the shell, said paint being of a color contrasting with the color of the shell and being capable of withstanding heat, then heating the roughenedarea on the surface of the shell under oxidizing conditions to a temperature sufficient to discolor uncoated portions thereof and then applying, a protective coating of a transparent paint to the entire surface of said roughened area.

10. In a method of making an instruction panel and legend as an integral part of a metal shell of a fire extinguisher, the steps of roughening an area on the exterior surface of a cylindrical metal shell and producing numerous minute recesses, crevices and cavities in the surface of said roughened area, said roughened area forming an instruction panel and having a texture differing from the finish of surrounding areas on the exterior of the shell, then defining instruction characters on said roughened area by applying a visible and protective coating of a baking type of paint to the bottoms and side walls of the recesses, crevices and cavities in selected portions of the surface of said roughened area, said paint being of a color contrasting with the color of the shell, then heating the roughened area on the surface of the shell under oxidizing conditions to a temperature suflicient to discolor the unprotected areas thereof, said temperature being below the temperature required to set the paint, then applying a transparent coating of a protective material to the entire sur: face of said roughened area and then heating the coatings on said roughened area to a temperature sufficient to set the coatings.

11. In a method of making a fire extinguisher having a cylindrical metal shell and an instructional panel formed integrally in the exterior surface thereof, the steps of producing on the exterior surface of a cylindrical metal shell an area containing numerous small recesses, crevices and cavities in the surface thereof by blasting said area with an abrasive material, said blasted area being of suitable size and shape for an instruction panel and of a different texture than surrounding finished areas of the exterior surface of the shell, then defining a word inscription on said blasted area by applying a visible and protective coating of a baking paint to the bottoms and side walls of the recesses, crevices and cavities in predetermined portions of the surface of the blasted area, said paint being of a different color than the shell and then heating the blasted area under oxidizing conditions to a temperature sufficient to discolor unpainted areas thereof.

12. In a method of making a fire extinguisher having a cylindrical metal shell with an instruction panel on the exterior surface thereof that is delineated by surrounding finished surfaces of the shell, the steps as defined in claim 11 which 7 includes the step of applying a transparent coating of a protective material to the entire blasted area following the heating thereof.

13. An instruction panel for a fire extinguisher comprising a roughened metal surface having numerous minute recesses, crevices and cavities therein, instruction characters on said surface formed by a protective and visible coating of paint adhering to the bottoms and side walls of said recesses, crevices and cavities and portions of said surface surrounding the instruction characters that are of a color different from the color of the surface covered by the coating of paint.

14. A fire extinguisher having an integral instruction panel thereon which comprises a cylindrical metal shell, said shell having an area on the exterior surface thereof containing numerous minute recesses, crevices and cavities and a word inscription defined by a visible and protective coating adhering to the bottoms and side walls of the recesses, crevices and cavities in selected legend-defining portions of said area, said coating being protected from removal from the surface of said area by the side walls of the recesses, crevices and cavities therein and being of a contrasting color to the surrounding areas of the shell.

15. A fire extinguisher having an integral instruction panel thereon which comprises a cylindrical metal shell, said shell having an area on the exterior surface thereof containing numerous minute recesses, crevices and cavities, visible instruction characters defined by a protective coating of paint adhering to the bottoms and side walls of the recesses, crevices and cavities in selected character-defining portions of said area, said coating being protected from removal from the surface of said area by the Side walls of the recesses, crevices and cavities in the roughened surface and being of a contrasting color to the surrounding areas of the shell and portions of said area adjoining said character-defining portions which are discolored to a color different from the color of the surface of the shell surrounding said area and from the color of the portions covered by said coating.

16. A metal fire extinguisher shell having a smoothly finished exterior surface that is characterized by an instruction panel formed integrally in the exterior surface of said shell, said instruction panel comprising a roughened surface containing numerous minute recesses, crevices and cavities therein and a legend carried on said roughened surface, said legend comprising juxtaposed contrastingly colored and uncolored areas of the roughened surface of the panel, said colored areas consisting of a visible coating of paint adhering to the bottoms and side walls of the recesses, crevices and cavities in the roughened surface and being protected from removal from said roughened surface thereby and a colorless coating of protective material overlying the colored and uncolored areas of the roughened surface of the panel.

17. A fire extinguisher as defined in claim 16 wherein the uncolored areas of the roughened surface of the panel adjoining the painted character-defining areas are discolored to a color differing from the color of the shell and the color of the roughened surface underlying the colored areas.

BOYD J. ALLEN. FRANCIS A. RAUH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,796,023 Hill Mar. 10, 1931 1,840,567 Chernow Jan. 12, 1932 2,076,212 Snter et al Apr. 6, 1937 2,102,162 Nierenberg Dec. 14, 1937 2,243,787 Batcheller May 27, 1941 2,283,170 Batcheller May 19, 1942 2,374,356 Keuifel Apr. 24, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 599,394 Great Britain Mar. 11, 1948 

